Battery



C. F. BU RG ESS BATTERY Jan. 2, 1940.

Filed ug. 1, 1935 SVSheetS-Sheet l Jan. l2, 1940. c, F. BURGEss BATTERY Filed Aug. 1, 1956 vs sheets-sheet 2 Jan. .2,l 1940.

` C. F. BURGESS BATTERY Filed Aug. 1, 1936 s'sheets-sneet 3' Patented Jan. 2, 1940 UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE BATTERY Charles F. Burgess, Bokeeiia, Fla., assignor, by

mesne assignments. to Burgess Battery Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 1, 1936, Serial No. 93,755

5 Claims. (Cl. 13G-108) This invention relates to multiple cell batteries, and an open ended tube II of insulating material and particularly batteries in which the cells are is used in its place. The dry cells I are provided connected in parallel, although it is not limited With the usual brass capped central positive electhereto. It relates to batteries of the low volttrode I 2 projecting from the top thereof. lThe age, high capacity type which are particularly'v bottoms of the zinc cansof dry cells I0 are con 5 adapted for lighting service, such as the lighting nected together by means of a metallic screen I3 of beacons for railroads, lighthouses, coast guard of hexagonal shape to conform with the shape Y equipment, airport field marking equipment, etc. of the group of cells and a second similarly shaped The batteries are also adapted for use in op- Wire screen I4 is connected to the central termierating neon signs as in Patent No. 2,029,221. In nals I2. A relatively thick sheet or board of in- 10 general, they are adapted for use under any con- Sulating material l5, having Openings t0 accomditions where low voltage heavy drain requiremodate the central terminals I2, is arranged bements are found. tween screen It and the top edges of the zinc It is the object of the invention to provide a cans. The dry Cells l0 and the tube li may be battery of the type described which is sturdy and placed in a container or a jig which holds `the compact and which maybe connected readily to group rmly together with the bottoms of the other batteries of the same type. dry cells exposed, and the screen I3 may be It is a further object of the invention to proplaced upon the exposed ends of the dry cells and vide a battery of the type described which is soldered to each of them. The group is then readapted to receive retaining means whereby it versed so that'the central terminals of the dry 2U may be held in any desired location and whereby cells are exposed and the sheet of insulating maa number of the batteries may be arranged toterial I5 is fitted over the central terminals I2 so gether in permanent relation under conditions that the vlatter' are exposed through the open- Where a multiple battery installation is desired. ings in the sheet. The screen I4 is then placed In the drawings: over the exposed terminals I2 and soldered to 25 Fig. l is a perspective view oi. the battery of them. lThe insulating sheet I5 protects against this invention with portions broken away and possible short circuits between vscreen I6 and the removed to show the internal construction; tops of the zinc cans. The ends of tube II ex- Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the battery taken tend beyond wire screens I 3 and III and. central at the level of the tops of the containers of the openings are provided in the screens and in in- 30 cells oi Fig. l; y sulating sheet I5 to accommodate the tube. Ter- Fig. 3 is a side view, partly in section, of an minalwire I'I is connected to the bottom lscreen arrangement in which a number oi the batteries I3 and a second terminal wire I8 is similarly are arranged and held together by one form of connected to the top screen Iii. These terminal 85 retaining means; wires are adapted to be connected to a cooperat- 35 Fig. 4 is a side view, with a portion broken ing external circuit or to the terminal wire of away, showing an arrangement similar to that of additional batteries in case it is desired to use Fig. 3 in which a diierent retaining means is several of the batteries connected in series or employed. parallel.

40 Fig. 5 is a plan View of a modied form of the The assembly described is encased in a con- 40 battery of this invention, with the cover removed; tainer 20 of insulating material, which container and is provided with substantially iiat bottom and top Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the battery of members 2| 'and 22. The bottom and top mem- Fig. 5 taken at the lower extremities of the cells. bers are provided with central openings which coiiiA The battery comprises a plurality of cylindriincide with tube II.` The ends of tube II may be 45 cal dry cells II) arranged inclose packed 'arrangeattached to bottom and top members 2i and 22 ment, as shown in Fig. 2. The dry cells have the by 'means of adhesive, or ymetal staples, or any ordinary cylindrical -zinc containers and \prefer other suitable means. AThe end portions of terably are in direct contact with one another minal wires Il and. I8 are arranged within tube 60 whereby they occupy as small a space as possible. II and notches or openings may be provided at 60 The cells may have the usual cylindrical insuthe ends of the tubes for the terminal wires to lating jackets if desired. pass through beneath the end covers 2| and 22.

The dry cells of Fig. 2 are shown to be ar- After the battery has been assembled it may be ranged in a hexagonal group. The cell which dipped in a suitable compound for imparting rewould occur in the center of the group is omitted sstance to moisture, salt water, oil and other liq- 55 may be dipped in a solution thereof in a suitable' solvent, such as acetone. 'Ihe battery may also be protected by wrapping it in paper which is re- A sistant to moisture and other liquids.

The close packed arrangement and parallel connection of the cells of the battery of Fig. 1 is the subject of C.F. Burgess Patent 2,014,832 granted September 17, 1935, and while it is particularly useful in batteries adapted` for the types of service mentioned heretofore, the present invention is not limited to such arrangement and connection. The cells may be arranged in the well-known egg crate construction and may be connected in series to provide a high voltage battery. Other variations in the construction of the battery may be made in accordance with well-known practice.

Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangement in which a plurality of the batteries 24 are supported together upon a supporting means comprising a rod 25 with a bottom plate 26 and a top plate 21 attached to the ends thereof. The bottomterminal wire of the top battery is connected to the top terminal wire of the second battery and a similar connection is repeated between the second battery and the one beneath it,letc., these connections being indicated at 28 and providing a series connection of the several batteries. Rodl 25 threads the central tubes ,of the batteries and maintains them in their relative positions. The tubes are larger than the rod and the bottom terminal wire of the bottom battery is connected to a wire 29 which is brought up through the` tubes tothe terminal 30, which is mounted on top plate 21. The top terminal wire of the top battery is connected to a second terminal 3|, which also is mounted on plate 21. A handle 32 is mounted it. By connecting diierent numbers of batteries together in series any desired voltage may be obtained.

Fig. 4 illustrates another arrangement in which a plurality of batteries may be connected together in series and inserted in a suitably shaped compartment. In this arrangement the retaining means is in the form of an open frame or cage, comprising spaced upright frame members 35 permanently attached to a bottom plate 36. Frame members 35 are located at the corners of the frame and are angular whereby they cover the corner portions of the batteries. The top end portions 31 of frame members 35 are turned inwardly at right angles and a top member 38,

'i carrying handle 38, is arranged below the portions 31. A close fitting collar member 40 is placed over the top ends of the frame members 35 and holds them in position.- Top member 38 and collar member 40 are not attached to the upright frame members 35. The batteries 4| are placed in superposed relation in the frame and are connected together in series by connectors 42 in a manner similar to that described in connection with Fig. 3. The terminal wires 43 and 44 of the assembled unit are connected to terminals 45 and 46 which are mounted on top member 38. When inserting or removing the batteries 4|, the collar 40 is removed from the frame and the upright members 35 are spread apart at the top of the frame. The top member 38 is then removed and the batteries are removed or inserted, and the top member may be replaced and the frame 3 .embers allowed to return to their normal positions and collar 40 replaced.

The angular shape of the battery and of the cage is useful for the purpose of insuring that the batteries are maintained in alignment when they are in the cage or in any angularly shaped container whereby they will not undergo relative twisting or other relative movement which might result in the pulling apart of the inter-battery connection. The corners of the batteries are protected by frame members 35, and this is an'advantage since the cornersl of the batteries receive the most wear and damage in handling and use. While a hexagonal shape is shown it is understood that any suitable angular shape is satisfactory.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of the battery of this invention in which the parallel connected cells are divided into a number of groups which are connected in series. 'I'he cells are arranged about the central tube 49 and are divided into three groups 50, 5| and 52 by means of separators 53,54 and of paper or other suitable electrical insulating material. 'I'he separators are exible and sumciently loose that the cells of the different groups may fit together in the close packed arrangement as shown. The cells of group 5| are arranged with their negative terminals toward the top of the battery while groups 50 and 52 have their positive terminals toward the top.

The negative terminals of the cells of group 50 are connected together and to the negativey terminal 56 of the battery by means of metal screen 51 at the bottom of the battery. The positive terminals of the cells of group 50 and the negative terminals of the cells of group 5| are connected together by means of metal screen 58 at the top of the battery, as shown in Fig. 5. The positive'terminals of group 5| and the negative terminals of group 52 are connected together by means of metal screen 59 at the bottom of the battery, as shown in Fig. 6. The positive terminals of group 52 are connected together and to thepositive battery terminal 68 by means of metal screen 6| at the top of the battery, as shown in Fig. 5. A suitably shaped and perforated sheet of insulating material 62 ts over the positive terminals of group 5|- and between metal screen 59 and the tops of the cells of group 5| to protect against short circuits as explained heretofore in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. Sheets 63 and 64 are similarly arranged in the other groups of cells.

I claim: l

1. A multiple cell battery comprising a container having substantially flat top and bottom members of polvgonal shape, said members each having an opening therein, said openings being in substantial alignment with each other, an open-ended tubeextending between said members and having the ends thereof coinciding with said openings, a multiplicity of electrically connected cup-shaped, cylindrical dry cells within said container and surrounding said tube, 'said dry cells having their long axes at right angles to said top and bottom members, and flexible battery terminal leads extending from said vcontainer .and adapted to be inserted in said tube.

arenoso 3 long axes at right angles to saidtop and bottom members, Ysaid cells being connected in parallel and arranged in a plurality of adjacent rows in close packed arrangement, the cans of adjacent cells being substantially in contact with one another, one of said cells in the central part of said battery being omitted, an insulating open-ended 15 tube replacing said omitted cell and extending between said openings in said top and bottom members whereby said battery maybe threaded onto a rod, the electrodes of like polarity being electrically connected together, and terminal lead wires extending fromsaid cells and adapted to` be inserted into said tube.

3. A multiple unit battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected battery units arranged in superimposed relation, each oi' said units comprising a container having substantially at top and bottom members, said members eachhaving an opening therein, saidopen- 1 ranged as to leave unoccupied the space between ings being in substantial. alignment with each other, a multiplicity of electrically connected dry cells in said container said dry cells being so arsaid openings thereby providing an aperture through the unit and means for holdingsaid units in superimposed relation comprising a frame comprising top and bottom members and a longitudinal member holding. said top and bottom members together and holding said battery units against lateral displacement.

4. A multiple unit battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected battery units arranged in superimposed relation, each of saic' units comprising a container having substantialh nat top and bottom members, said members eacl. having an opening therein, said openings being ir substantial alignment with each other, a mul tiplicity of dry .c ells in said container, said dry cells being arranged so as to leave unoccupiec the space between said openings, thereby providing an aperture through the unit, and mean:

, for'holding said unitsI in superimposed relatior comprising a frame `comprising top and botten members and a longitudinal `member holding saic top andfbottom members together, said longitudinal member extending throughthe aperture: of said units to hold said units against laterai displacement.

' 5. A multiple unit battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected battery units arranged in superimposed` relation, each of saic units comprising a container having substantially flat top and bottom members, said vmembers eacl'. having an opening therein, said openings being ir .substantial alignment with each other, a multiplicity of dry cells in said container, said dry cell: being arranged so as to leave unoccupied tlm space 'between said openings, thereby providing an aperture through the unit, and means fo1 holding said units in superimposed relation comprising a frame comprising top and bottom members and a longitudinal member holding said to] and bottom members together, said longitudine member engaging the sides of said units to holc said units against lateral displacement, electrica conductors for connecting said units together anc to an external circuit, at least one of said cony ductors being arranged inthe apertures of saic CHARLES F. BURGESS.. 

